Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2001

The Board has granted a rating of 40 percent for the veteran's lumbosacral strain, effective as of the date of this decision.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disorder was denied, and his request for an increased rating for mechanical low back pain with muscle spasm was also denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support the presence of any current left knee disorder or significant low back disability.

The veteran's representative submitted a request for service connection on May 30, 1997. The RO granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine effective April 23, 1998.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a low back disability, finding that it is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate disorder and a back disorder.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development and need for further medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's degenerative disc disease at L5-S1 with levoscoliosis of the thoracic spine due to trauma, and has denied a compensable evaluation for his left upper thigh scar.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 1, 1999, for the payment of additional compensation for his spouse and four children is denied. The VA awarded him a dependency allowance effective April 1, 1999, based on information provided by the veteran in April 1999.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine and an increased rating for a lumbosacral strain, finding that his current conditions were not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected condition.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of ingrown great toenails, finding that the veteran's current disabilities are more likely than not attributable to his service. The other issues remain pending and will be remanded for further development.

The veteran's PTSD and back disorder are both found to be service-connected.

The Board has ordered the Regional Office to obtain Social Security Administration records and medical records related to the veteran's claim for disability benefits. The case will be returned to the Board if further action is needed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected low back strain requires further development, including an examination to determine if there are any additional low back disabilities and whether they are related to or caused by his service-connected low back strain. The issue of secondary service connection for additional low back disability is also being addressed.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the lumbar spine and post-traumatic stress disorder were denied as there was no evidence to support a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disorder as secondary to his service-connected aseptic meningitis, finding that there was no evidence supporting such a relationship.

The veteran's effective dates for a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD and TDIU were granted as of April 14, 2000.,His TDIU was also granted on September 25, 2000.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic low back strain and degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine have been granted, with a rating of 40 percent each effective from the date of this decision.

The Board found that the appellant's back injury during reserve service, including multiple parachute jumps, resulted in a current degenerative disc and joint disease of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The hearing loss disability was also linked to exposure to noise during reserve service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his lumbosacral strain with degenerative disc and joint disease, as well as his claim for a TDIU based on his service-connected back condition. The RO provided multiple VA examinations to assess the severity of the veteran's disability.